Advertising device



(Hommel.) ,y

H. GREEN, ADVERTISING DVIUE.

No. 576,267'. v Patented Feb. 2, 1897(i Fig. 2.

NiTnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY GREEN, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

ADVERTISING DEvlcE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 576,267, dated February 2, 1.891?.V

' I Application filed May 2,1896. Serial No. 590,010. (No model.)

.To @ZZ w/tom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, HENRY GREEN, a citizen of the United States, residing in Hartford, in

vertisements and signs, in which each globeof said device may illuminate one or more letters or characters, thereby avoiding the necessity of employing a number of globes to form each letter or character of the advertisement or sign, and which device will not only be simple in construction and easily discernible and readable, but will also be capa# ble of being easily assembled and disassembled.

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specication, Figure l is an end view of my improved advertising device. Fig. 2 is a side view thereof. Fig. 3 is likewise a side view thereof, but showing the letter or character plate adjusted to a dierent position relatively to the globe. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of one form of clamping device detached from the globe. Fig. 5 is aview showing the plate in position at the side of the globe. Fig. 6 is a view of another form of the letter-plate and clamping device, and Fig. 7 is a view of the letterplate with two letters thereon.

Similar characters designate like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

Heretofore in the use of incandescenteelectric-light globes for advertising purposes, it has been the common practice to form each letter of the advertisement by a number of globes, either colored or otherwise, so that in order to constitute even a comparatively short name or advertisement it has been necessary to `use a large number of said globes, which not only take up considerable space, but are quite expensive. In order, therefore, to obof the same ysize as or smaller or larger than the letters or characters to be illuminated, but the device is more especially adapted for use in connection'with the ordinary size of incandescent globes.

This improved advertising device comA prises in a general way an incandescent-electric-light globe, a letter or character device, and means engaging the globe for holding said letter or character device in position rela tively thereto.

For the purposes of this specification the device having the letter or character thereon will be termed a letter-plate, although it will be understood that it need not necessarily be provided with a letter, but may have a character, symbol, or other design, and .may also have a series of letters, characters, rbc., thereon.

In the present construction of this improved advertising device 10 designates an incandescent-electric-light globe, preferably of the usual form, in front or at the sides of which is disposed a letter-plate ll, secured to such globe by suitable means-such, for instance, as that herein described. This letter-plate 1l may be constructed of any material, transparent or otherwise, such as glass, metal, or other substance, and may be of any desired size and shape, such as oval, circular, square, &c. In practice, however, this plate will preferably be slightly larger than the end or side of the globe.

When the letter-plate is made of glass or of other transparent material, that portion of the surface which surrounds the letter or character may be made opaque by any suitable means, such as mineral or asbestos paint, to thereby obscure the light, except at the letter or character part thereof; or the letter or character may be made opaque itself, to thereby permit the light to illuminate the IOO plate around such letter; or the letter may be placed thereon in a transparent color or colors, whereby the light will be colored as it shines tl'irough said letter; or the same result may be accomplished in any other suitable and desired way. When, however, the plate is made of metal or analogous material, the letter or character is cut through the plate, and, if desired, in some instances the outline of the letter or character only, without any surrounding surface, might be disposed in position before the light by suitable clamping means to thereby obscure such light at such letter or character portion.

It will also be understood that one or more letters or characters may be formed on each plate, if desired, as hereinbefore set forth, and that instead of coloring the letter or the plate the incandescent-light globemay be colored, and that each of the globes or the plates of the series forming the sign may be of different colors.

In the present construction, in the preferred form thereof, the means for securing the letter-plate in position on the globe comprises suitable clamping means, such as spring clamping-arms 12 of any desired number, preferably herein shown as four in number, and united at their outer ends to a recessed rim or band 13, adapted to inclose the edge of the letter-plate and thus hold the same removably in position. As an additional means of securing the plate in position such rim may be provided, if desired, with suitable holding devices or catches, such as spring-clips 14, preferably formed as a part of the rim 13 and adapted to extend slightly over the face of the plate when in position in the rim. These spring-arms 12 may be of any construction adapted for the purpose and may constitute a skeleton frame, if desired; but they are herein shown as preferably conforming to the shape of a part of the globe and as adapted to preferably extend beyond the enlarged portion thereof. They are so formed, however, that they will permit movement of the letterplate laterally of the globe,whereby su ch plate can be disposed at an inclination thereto.

lf desired, instead of securing the plate in position at the end of the globe, it may be adjustably secured at the side thereof, especially iu those cases Where the globes are perpendicularly disposed, in which instances the spring-arms 12 are adapted to encircle or partially encircle such globe.

ln the form shown in Fig. G the spring-arms are preferably non-removably joined to the letter-plate by being formed thereon, riveted thereto, or connected in any other desired way.

When the letter-plate is of a shape and construction different from that herein shown, the plate-engagingpart of the clamping means may be made to conform thereto.

By the use of these removable and interchangeable lettcr-plates the same incandescent lights can be utilized to display a number of different advertisements by either nterchanging the letter-plates With each other or by substituting one set of plates for another set having different letters or characters thereon in a manner that Will be obvious Without further description, and as these plates can be made at a very low cost a number thereof can be supplied for this purpose, this interchangeability being effected in that form of the invention Where the plates are removable from the clamping-arms by either removing the same therefrom or by removing the spring clamping arms and plates together from the globes.

In the use of this improved advertising device When the incandescent-electric-light globes are in position side by side or in any other Way the letters or characters on the letter-plate may represent any desired Word or character, and if such plates are disposed at the sides of the series of globes the letters thereof may be spelled out to represent a Word or character.

B y the use of this improved advertising device the necessity for using a large number of incandescent-electric-light globes, which is not only expensive but takes up considerable space to form each letter or character, is thus obviated.

Having described my invention, I claim-- 1. An incandescent-electric-light globe in combination with a freely-removable device having one or more letters or characters thereon and provided with means for directly engaging the bulb of said globe.

2. An advertising device comprising a series of incandescent-electric-light globes and a series of interchangeable and removable devices, each of said devices having one or more letters or characters thereon and provided with clamping means for engaging said globe.

3. An advertising device comprising an incandescent-electric-light globe and a freelyremovable letter-plate having means for directly engaging said globe, whereby said plate will be secured in position relatively thereto.

4A. An advertising device comprising an incandescent-electric-light globe and a letterplate having clamping-arms adapted to engage the globe.

5. An advertising device comprising an incandescent-electric-light globe and a letterplate having spring clamping-arms adjustably and removably engaging said globe.

G. An advertising device comprising an in candescent-electric-light globe, a letter-plate, and clamping-arms removably secured to the letter-plate and adj ustably and removably engaging the globe.

7. An advertising device comprising an electric-light globe; a device having a letter or character thereon, and provided with a spring clamping skeleton frame adapted to engage the globe at its ends or sides for securing the plate in position relatively thereto.

S. An advertising device comprising an IOO IIO

electric-lght globe; a letter or character plate; and clamping means comprising a series of spring clamping-arms shaped to engage the globe, and having a recessed rim or member into which the edge of the letter-plate fits.

9. An advertising device comprising an incandescent-electric-light globe; a letter or character plate and clamping-arms engaging the globe and having recessed portions engaging the edge of the plate.

10. An advertising device comprising an incandescent-electric-light globe; a letter or character plate; and clamping means co1nprising clamping-arms adapted to engage the globe and having a rim adapted to engage the edge of the plate, said rim being provided With devices for holding said plate in position.

11. An advertising device comprising a series of incandescent-electric-light globes and a series of removable and interchangeable devices, each of said devices having one or more letters or characters cut or formed thereon, and having clamping means directly engaging ter or character caps or plates covering the ends thereof, each of said caps or plates having spring clamping-arms for removably holding the same on its respective globe.

HENRY GREEN. Witnesses:

FRED. J. DOLE, F. N. CHASE. 

